A TALENTED teenage ballet dancer from Finglas has been offered the chance of a lifetime to make her dreams come true after being accepted into the prestigious Institute of the Arts in Barcelona.
Kate Finn (19) has already proved her ability in Ireland having successfully auditioned for the Irish National Youth Ballet every year for the past decade.
And now after impressing tutors from Barcelona during a demanding audition she’ll be dancing with some of the best young talent in Europe.
Kate, who studies at the College of Dance in Kimmage, will be leaving her home in Finglas this September to start a three-year journey towards a BA Honours Degree in Dance.
But her family are anxious about the venture as not only will Kate be facing a gruelling schedule, she’ll also need to find ways to finance her tutoring.
However, despite the difficulties ahead Kate is really excited about the challenge and is looking forward to dancing with Europe’s top talent.
“I can’t wait,
? she told Northside People.
“Three years is a long time but it’s all for what I love. I’ll be living over there by myself but my mam and my grandma will be coming over to help me settle in.
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Kate, who began dancing aged just four, practices and studies dance six days a week, from 10am to 5.30pm. She admits it affects her social life, but is happy to make the sacrifice in pursuit of her dreams.
“A lot of my friends are from ballet, and I do go out with them once in a blue moon, depending on how busy I am with rehearsals.
“We do have fun when we go out but we have to quite careful with our bodies so that we don’t get injured.
“I just love everything about dance. I do a bit of everything; jazz, contemporary, tap and a bit of singing. They’re all fun but ballet has always been my favourite and I think it always will be.
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Kate’s career has been guided by a fellow Northsider, Katherine Lewis from Cabra, who is Artistic Director of the Irish National Youth Ballet and who was the first Irish person to attend the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London.
She’s also been influenced by top Irish choreographers Stephen Brennan and Kilian O’Callaghan and says classical ballet dancer Polina Semionova and Cuban-born international star Carlos Acosta are major inspirations.
Kate’s mum, Alison, is naturally delighted her talented daughter has been accepted for the BA Honours Degree course but is also concerned about how the family will manage the e9,500 yearly cost of her education and training in Barcelona.
“She’s great, she’s always been so single minded about the whole thing. She’s always been focussed and never strayed from the path she’s on,
? Alison says.
“She’s taken this one step at a time. Going away to do the degree is just the next step. She has a fantastic work ethic and she’s a team player and that’ll stand to her.
“She’s trying to help with the cost of Barcelona herself and has set up a
‘Go Fund Me’ account where supporters can donate funds to help her cover the cost.
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Alison says she’s doubly proud of Kate because she’s had to battle with dyscalculia, a condition that makes it difficult to learn arithmetic.
“She just kept going and now she’s getting to do an honours degree,
? she explains.
“It’s nice for other kids with similar problems to see that if you keep trying you can get there in the end.
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?¢ Donations towards Kate’s From Ballet to Barcelona fund can be made online at www.gofundme.com/9dv77o.